Angela Smith: To strengthen and clarify the key role of the planning system in managing flood risk and contributing to adapting to the impacts of climate change, we are today publishing:
	a new Planning Policy Statement (PPS)25: Development and Flood Risk;
	and a flooding Direction.
	PPS25 replaces the existing PPG25, issued in 2001, and sets out policies for planning authorities to:
	ensure flood risk is properly taken into account at all stages in the planning process;
	prevent inappropriate development in areas at high risk of flooding;
	and direct development away from areas at highest risk.
	The flooding direction provides the opportunity for greater scrutiny for major developments proposed in flood risk areas. Where local authorities intend approve major applications despite the Environment Agency maintaining its objections, the Secretary of State will be asked to consider whether to call them in for decision.
	These documents are supported by regulations made on 1 October 2006 which made the Environment Agency a statutory consultee for planning applications in flood risk areas. This reinforces implementation of PPS25 by ensuring that the agency is able to advise on all applications where flood risk is an issue.
	Flooding from rivers and tidal water is set to increase in frequency and intensity as a result of known climate change. The substantial upgrading from PPG25 in PPS25 is an important climate change adaptation measure. It forms part of the Government's "Making Space for Water Strategy" and delivers on a project jointly launched by my right hon. Friend the Member for Streatham (Keith Hill), the then Minister for Housing and Planning, and my hon. Friend the Member for Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley), the then Minister for Environment and Agri-environment in March 2005.
	PPS25 is therefore a key part of our developing programme of responses to the challenge of climate change. It complements a comprehensive packageof planning policy and building standards to be announced shortly that will chart a course towards zero carbon development, and embed carbon reduction principles in future development.
	PPS25 also strongly supports the strategy for housing set out in PPS3 on 29 November. In our drive for increasing housing supply and in particular by making more use of previously developed land, we need a strong set of tools to assess flood risk. We must avoid those areas where housing development is never going to acceptable. But we must also identify those where, with good design and local mitigation measures, it is possible to manage the risk and still build safely.
	Copies of PPS25 and the circular and flooding direction are being made available in the Librariesof both Houses. PPS25 will be available on the Communities and Local Government website at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1504639 and the circular at: http://www.comunities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1504645.

Derek Twigg: The new rates of war pensions and allowances proposed from April 2007 are set out in the tables. The annual uprating of war pensions and allowances for 2007 will take place from the week beginning 9 April.
	
		
			 War Pensions Rates 
			 (Weekly rates unless otherwise shown) Rates (2006) Rates (2007) 
			 Disablement Pension (100% rates)   
			 officer (£ per annum) 7034.00 7290.00 
			 other ranks 134.80 139.70 
			
			 Age allowances   
			 40%-50% 9.5 9.40 
			 over 50% but not over 70% 13.85 14.35 
			 over 70% but not over 90% 19.75 20.45 
			 over 90% 27.70 28.70 
			
			 Disablement gratuity   
			 specified minor injury (min.) 858.00 889.00 
			 specified minor injury (max.) 64103.00 6643.00 
			 unspecified minor injury (min.) 354.00 367.00 
			 unspecified minor injury (max.) 8337.00 8637.00 
			
			 Unemployability allowance   
			 personal 83.35 86.35 
			 adult dependency increase 46.95 48.65 
			 increase for first child 10.90 11.30 
			 increase for subsequent children 12.85 13.30 
			
			 Invalidity allowance   
			 higher rate 16.50 17.10 
			 middle rate 10.30 11.00 
			 lower rate 5.30 5.50 
			
			 Constant attendance allowance   
			 exceptional rate 101.80 105.40 
			 intermediate rate 76.35 79.05 
			 full day rate 50.90 52.70 
			 part-day rate 25.45  
			   26.35 
			 Comforts allowance   
			 Higher rate 21.80 22.60 
			 Lower rate 10.90 11.30 
			
			 Mobility supplement 48.55 50.30 
			 Allowance for lowered standard of occupation (maximum) 50.84 52.68 
			 Therapeutic earnings limit 4212.00 4472.00 
			 Exceptionally severe disablement allowance 50.90 52.70 
			 Severe disablement occupational allowance 25.45 26.35 
			 Clothing allowance (£ per annum) 174.00 180.00 
			 Education allowance (£ per annum) (max.) 120.00 120.00 
			
			 Widow (er)s —private 102.20 105.90 
			 Widow (er)s' (other ranks) 102.20 105.90 
			 Widow (er) — officer (3 per annum) (max.) 6298.00 105.90 
			 Childless widow (er)s' u-40 (other ranks) 24.49 25.37 
			 Childless widow (er)s' u-40 (Officer max. 3s pa) 6298.00 6525.00 
			
			 Supplementary Pension 68.42 70.88 
			 Age allowance   
			 (a) age 65 to 69 11.70 12.10 
			 (b) age 70 to 79 22.40 23.20 
			 (c) age 80 and over 33.20 34.40 
			
			 Children's allowance   
			 Increase for the first child 16.05 16.65 
			 Increase for subsequent children 17.95 18.60 
			
			 Orphan's pension   
			 Increase for first child 18.30 18.95 
			 Increase for subsequent children 20.10 20.80 
			
			 Unmarried dependant living as spouse (max.) 99.85 103.55 
			 Rent allowance (max.) 38.55 39.95 
			 Adult orphan's pension (max.) 78.50 81.35

Ben Bradshaw: The House will be aware that the United Nations General Assembly discussed a sustainable fisheries resolution in New York from 16 to 23 November. Of particular interest was the section of the draft resolution relating to bottom fisheries, notably bottom trawling, and their impacts on vulnerable marine ecosystems. For too long the international community has turned a blind eye to the devastation which can be caused by this practice, but an improved scientific understanding of its impact on sensitive ecosystems in our deepest oceans, and proven evidence of the damage it causes, gave me hope that the international community would take the opportunity offered by the UNGA discussions to agree truly significant and effective measures to stop this destructive activity and protect seamounts, cold water corals, hydrothermal vents and similar vulnerable ecosystems.
	I visited the UN last month to seek to persuade others of the importance of UN leadership in taking far reaching measures. With the help of Commissioner Borg and other EU allies we developed an EU position based firmly on the precautionary approach including reversing the burden of proof. This means that countries would need to show that their fishing operations were not damaging vulnerable ecosystems, or the sustainability of fish stocks, before they allowed them to operate.
	The outcome of the meeting was a significant improvement on where we were in October. The resolution agreed a programme of actions required of regional fisheries management organisations including a requirement that they adopt the reverse burden of proof before authorising their members to fish in the deep seas, this formulation is repeated for situations where regional fisheries management organisations are being established. Flag states operating in non-regulated waters have a clear deadline of 31 December 2008 either to apply the RFMO process to their own vessels or choose to prohibit fishing.
	While there is now a framework in place to end destructive bottom fisheries over the next two years, I am bitterly disappointed that we were not able to go further and agree a more accelerated and stronger package of measures, to end this destructive, unregulated deep sea fishing which is wrecking so many marine creatures and habitats. I am, however grateful for the support of many countries who have helped to achieve a significant shift in how the oceans are governed, but time is running out for the sensitive and vulnerable ecosystems threatened by this practice.
	We will continue to press for effective worldwide action and, with the European Union, we will ensure that everybody meets their responsibilities to prevent this kind of fishing destroying in minutes what has taken thousands of years to develop, and that high seas fisheries are founded on a clear sustainable basis.

Andy Burnham: On 24 July I informed the House that the Department of Health had published an interim report from the expert scientific group on phase1 clinical trials. The expert scientific group was established atthe request of the Secretary of State for Health, under the chairmanship of Professor Gordon Duff, with the following terms of reference:
	To consider what may be necessary in the transition from pre-clinical to first-in-man phase1 studies, and in the design of these trials, with specific reference to:
	biological molecules with novel mechanisms of action;
	new agents with a highly species-specific action; and
	new drugs directed towards immune system targets.
	To provide advice in the form of a report to the Secretary of State for Health for the future authorisation of such trials with an interim report to be provided within three months.
	The expert scientific group submitted their final report to the Secretary of State on 30 November and it is being published today.
	The report contains twenty two recommendations, which fall into a number of key areas:
	additional precautionary measures to apply to the approval and conduct of trials involving high risk compounds;
	the need for scientific advice from independent experts before trials of high risk substances are approved;
	better communication between regulators and drug developers and between regulators and ethics committees;
	the skills needed by those conducting clinical trials and how in the future these might be acquired;
	the location of trial units and the provision of adequate medical back up in case of problems arising; and
	wider availability of information about unpublished clinical trials and adverse reactions occurring in trials.
	The Government welcome the recommendations made by the expert scientific group and will givethem full consideration. Those recommendations that introduce precautionary measures in the approval and conduct of trials have already been implemented inthe UK on an interim basis by the Medicines And Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). These interim arrangements will remain until they are replaced by European guidance. We will make every effort to ensure that implementation of these, and other recommendations that require European-level implementation, are given priority.
	The MHRA has also put in place procedures for accessing independent scientific advice, and an expert advisory group that will review applications for trials of high risk substances will be established in the new year. Recognising the need for better communication between the main organisations responsible for approval of clinical trials, the MHRA and the UK Ethics Committee Authority (UKECA) jointly published a "Memorandum of Understanding" on30 October 2006, setting out what information should, in the future, be shared between MHRA and research Ethics Committees.
	We will be discussing with the relevant stakeholders, including the pharmaceutical industry and academia, how we can best ensure that the necessary changes are made to training programmes for staff involved in designing and conducting clinical trials, and how to ensure that trial units are appropriately located and equipped.
	Some of the expert scientific group's recommendations, such as those proposing greater sharing of information about trials and adverse reactions, have international implications. We will identify appropriate ways of taking these recommendations forward, and ensure that action to implement them is appropriately prioritised.
	It is important not to lose sight of the fact that phase1 studies have an extremely good safety record. The events associated with the TON 1412 study are extremely rare and were wholly unexpected. The Government are, however, aware of the continuing impact this tragic incident is having on the lives of the volunteers who were involved in this trial, and on their families. The volunteers have received, and will continue to receive, all appropriate NHS care, and we believe that implementing the wide ranging and comprehensive recommendations made in this report will make a significant contribution to the safety of clinical trials of high risk substances in the future.
	Finally, I would like to express the Government's grateful thanks to the expert scientific group on phase1 clinical trials and in particular to their chairman, Professor Gordon Duff, for the work they have undertaken in producing an impressive, authoritative and thorough review of the issues raised by the TGN 1412 clinical trial and in providing a range of soundly based recommendations for the future safety of such trials.

Margaret Hodge: I have decided to appoint the new board members listed at annex A and to reappoint the board member listed at annex B. The new appointments will all be for a period of three years. The reappointment will be for a period of two years.
	The new appointments will begin on 14 December 2006 and will expire on 13 December 2009. The reappointment will begin on 14 December 2006 and will expire on 13 December 2008.
	I have placed further details of the new appointments in the Library of both Houses. All of them were made in accordance with the code of practice of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
	
		
			 New Appointments: Annex A 
			 RDA Name 
			 One North East Ruth Thompson, OBE 
			  Paul Callaghan 
		
	
	
		
			 New Appointments: Annex B 
			 RDA Name 
			 East Midlands Development Agency Valerie Dwyer

Margaret Hodge: I will be representing the UK at the Telecoms Council in Brussels on the morning of 11 December 2006. This is the only Telecoms Council under the Finnish presidency of the EU.
	The first item on the agenda will be the Draft Council Resolution for a strategy for a secure information society in Europe. This concentrates specifically on trust and security in the ubiquitous information society of tomorrow. It reflects presidency concerns on information security issues and also the conclusions of the 12010 Information Society Conference the presidency hosted in Helsinki on28 September. I intend to give my endorsement tothis resolution as the actions it outlines for the Commission, member states and stakeholders are all consistent with the accepted need to engender trust, security and confidence in the on-line transactions we all increasingly carry out.
	The presidency will then introduce an exchange of views on the proposal for a regulation on roaming on public mobile networks within the Community. This draft regulation, adopted in July, and on which I recently wrote to the European Scrutiny Committees, seeks to reduce the level of roaming charges across the Community in a harmonised manner. While there has been a general consensus amongst member states that regulatory intervention is justified there has been considerable concern on the detail of the Commission's draft, particularly regarding the imposition of retail price control. Indeed the UK, along with several other member states believes that the current draft, if adopted, may unintentionally have consequences which might damage some consumer interests. In my intervention I will warmly endorse the objectives of the Commission but note the shortcomings of their approach, highlighting the UK tabled amendments including the introduction of a sunrise clause on the imposition of a retail cap.
	There will also be a short exchange of views on the proposal for the full accomplishment of the internal market of Community postal services. This will be achieved through the removal or reduction of obstacles that are currently hindering the functioning of the internal market. Given the benefits that will be achieved through the liberalisation of the market such as choice of provider, better service quality and improved value for money, I intend to fully support this proposal.
	Finally, under Any Other Business, the presidency will provide feedback on their J2010 conference and the internet governance forum which took place in October. The Commission will also do a presentation on the communication that they issued in November entitled "Bringing eCall back on track". I do not expect to intervene on any of these items.

Anne McGuire: In July this year I announced my decision to create Equality 2025. This is a new advisory body to help Government understand the needs and wishes of disabled people when developing policies and designing service delivery, recommended in the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit Report: "Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People". Equality 2025 will:
	a. work with the Government to help it achieve the aim of equality for disabled people by 2025.
	b. provide advice and information from disabled people based upon the values underpinning the work of the Network and the views and experiences of disabled people.
	c. advise Government Departments on how they can engage effectively and meaningfully with disabled people.
	d. assist the Government in raising awareness of disabled people and their rights, improving attitudes towards them and challenging negative stereotypes in the media and the wider community.
	e. help ensure that public bodies are meeting their legal duties under the DDA in relation to the Disability Equality Duty.
	f. advise Government on the implementation and maintenance of international treaties and conventions within the UK
	Equality 2025 will not replace existing departmental arrangements for involving disabled people in policy-making, but supplement them. It will work closely with other advisory bodies such as the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) and DEAC.
	I am delighted to advise the House that the recruitment exercise for membership of this exciting new body is now complete and today I will launch Equality 2025.
	Initially there will be 21 members who are all disabled people. Between them they bring a wide range of skills and experiences that will enable them to look at all issues from an equalities view point rather than being representative of any disability or organisation.
	Equality 2025 will hold its first meeting tomorrow, Friday 8 December, and will aim to produce their first annual work plan in the spring of 2007.
	Members' biographical details are availableon the Office for Disability Issues website at: www.officefordisability.gov.uk or contact the secretariat at:
	Equality 2025
	Office for Disability Issues
	Level 6
	The Adelphi
	1-11 John Adam St
	London
	WC2N 6HT
	The advisory group that helped to create Equality 2025 has produced a report containing all its recommendations for Equality 2025. I have placed this report and the Government's response in the Libraries of both Houses.